FILE TO RUN

• For the Democratic ticket, contact Cris Gonzalez at 361-594-8668 or visit VictoriaDemocraticParty.org. His email is crisg@victoriademocraticparty.org

• For the GOP ticket, contact Michael Cloud at 361-578-9334 or visit VictoriaGOP.com. His email is info@VictoriaGOP.com

The period to file for the March 2014 primaries begins Saturday.

Victoria County has 17 positions open on the ballot, and already, people are declaring their intent to seek office.

For county elections, applications must be filed with Republican Party Chairman Michael Cloud or Democratic Party Chairman Cris Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who took over leadership of the party in September, said the party is organized and motivated.

Cloud said the party is looking for qualified candidates for the primary.

"The whole process gives voters an opportunity to evaluate ... and get involved," he said. "Our nation was founded to be run by citizens. It's upon the citizenry to get involved and active and to participate as a voter or as a candidate."

"The message of the Victoria Democratic Party is the same whether it's local or statewide - that's always been the fairness issue," he said. "We think that the Democratic Party has always been the party of fairness in all areas of our community, whether that being in the workplace, in the community or education. If you do what's right and fair, people will respond to you."

While races at the top of the ticket bring the most enthusiasm, Cloud said voters can make a bigger impact locally.

"It's important to be educated in what's going on locally to pick our local candidates," he said. "The way the founders set up our country is it only works for a citizenry that is educated, active and involved in the process."

County Judge Don Pozzi announced his intention to run for re-election on the Republican Party ticket.

Lisa Hernandez, who has been in the banking industry for 29 years, gave her intent to run for county treasurer on the Republican Party ticket. That office is currently held by Sean Kennedy, who switched in March to the Republican Party. Kennedy has not said yet whether he will seek re-election.

Eli Garza, a prosecutor with the district attorney's office, said in August he intends to run for 377th Judicial District Judge. The sitting judge, Robert Cheshire, announced his retirement in May.

Jane Bernal, court clerk for Victoria County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, plans to run for district clerk on the Democratic Party ticket. Incumbent Cathy Stuart will file on the Republican Party ticket.

"We should have a pretty interesting primary," Cloud said. "We won't know really until people start filing on Saturday."

The Democratic Party chairman shares the same sentiments.

"We're getting a lot of good response from our community, and we think we're going to do well," Gonzalez said. "We just have to wait and see."